Monday, April 20, 2015

Living with TMJ



The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is vital in your ability to comfortably open and close your mouth. However, it is possible for this joint to become damaged as a result of excessive teeth grinding, a physical injury, or other complications. Living with a TMJ disorder is difficult, and you will experience facial pain, clicking or popping sounds when opening or closing the mouth, and difficulty chewing. Luckily, you do not have to live with TMJ as long as you seek treatment from our El Monte dentist.

One of the most common ways of treating a TMJ disorder is by wearing a mouth guard while you sleep. Bruxism, or teeth grinding, can create unnecessary stress on the teeth and joints. It has a tendency to occur during sleep when you are unaware that you are doing it. Wearing a mouth guard can prevent your teeth from chipping and cracking. And it can prevent your joints from becoming damaged.

Teeth grinding is often a symptom of too much stress, so you may also want to try practicing relaxation techniques and exercises to calm yourself. You may also be prescribed muscle relaxants to help loosen the tension in the jaw.

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